African violet plant named Improved North Dakota

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Improved North Dakota characterized by its single, violet-shaped, white flowers with purplish blue center and occasionally light purplish blue edges; strong, upright flower stems that curve slightly toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; medium green, oval to heart-shaped, serrated leaves; profuse flowering, vigorous and compact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeks after potting, and its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Improved North Dakota.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation H 50/2 and is a product of a planned breedingprogram. The basic objective of the breeding program was to create a newAfrican violet cultivar improving certain characteristics of thecultivar North Dakota, disclosed in my U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,551,granted June, 1980. The new cultivar was originated from a cross made byme in the controlled breeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic ofGermany. The female, or seed parent was a cultivar designated C 81/1.The male, or pollen parent was a cultivar designated XIX 4297.

Improved North Dakota was discovered and selected by me as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Haffen, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar byleaf cuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany, hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Improved North Dakota has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength. The following observations, measurements and values describe thenew cultivar as grown in a 10 cm pot in Haffen, West Germany andNashville, Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closely approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Improved North Dakota, which in combinationdistinguish this African violet as a new and distinct cultivar.

(1) Strong, upright flower stems curving slightly toward the center.

(2) Single, violet-shaped white flowers with slightly wavy edges andpurplish blue in the center and occasionally on some petal edges.

(3) Each plant carries 7-10 and more upright flower stems each of whichcarries 7-9 and more flowers.

(4) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(5) Vigorous and compact grower.

(6) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after potting.

(7) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(8) Oval to heart-shaped, serrated, medium green leaves.

(9) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The new cultivar is most similar to, and was specifically intended toimprove upon the characteristics of, my previously patented cultivarNorth Dakota. In comparison to North Dakota, the new cultivar isprincipally distinguished by its somewhat larger blooms, more compactgrowth habit, nicer foliage, stronger flowerstems, and by its longerflowering period.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 1 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulis ionantha, Ramat., c.v. ImprovedNorth Dakota.

Parentage:

Male parent.--XIX 4297.

Female parent.--C 81/1.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 9 cm to 12 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately24-28 cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Oval to heart-shaped. Diameter: 60-70 mm wide,65-80 mm long. Texture: Soft. Aspect: Serrated, hairy, shiny. Veins:Upperside: well visible; underside: very well pronounced, light green,shiny. Color (upperside): Yellow-Green Group 147 A. Color (underside):Yellow-Green Group 148 D. Petiole: Strong, light green, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Ball-shaped, 8-9 mm just before opening, greenish white.Sepals: Five (5). Color: Green. Calyx: Shape: Funnel-shaped. Aspect:Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Character: Strong upright, hairy. Color:Green with brownish touch. Individual flowers: Size: 40 mm to 45 mm.Shape: Single violet-shaped (3 large, 2 small petals). Color(upperside): White with center ranging from Violet Group 88 A to 88 C.Under cooler temperatures and more intensive lighting, the purplish bluetends to intensify. Color (underside): White with center being VioletGroup 88 C to D. Borne: Each flower stem carries 7-9 and more flowers onstrong, upright peduncle that are free standing above the leaves,thereby forming a compact bouquet. Flowering habit: Flowers 10-11 weeksafter potting.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Two (2). Anthers: 2 composed of 4 anthercells, seed capsule pushes slightly through. Filaments: Yellowish whitewith purplish blue on edges, 4 mm long. Pollen color: Yellow Group 7 A.Styles: 6-7 mm long, purplish blue, base of ovary light green and hairy.

Roots.--Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General observations: Improved North Dakota is a very attractive,vigorous and compact grower with single violet-shaped, white flowerswith purplish blue center and slightly wavy edges. Some metal edgesdisplay a fine light purplish blue line. Occasionally, 1-2 additionalvery small petals develop in the center. A tight bouquet of flowers freestanding above leaves develop after approximately 10-11 weeks. Each ofthe 7-10 and more strong flower stems carries 7-9 and more flowers. Theflowers are long-lasting and non-dropping. The medium green, oval toheart-shaped leaves are serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named ImprovedNorth Dakota, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized by its single, violet-shaped, white flowers with purplishblue center and occasionally light purplish blue edges; strong, uprightflower stems that curve slightly toward the center to form a compactbouquet above the leaves; medium green, oval to heart-shaped, serratedleaves; profuse flowering, vigorous and compact growth habit, flowering10-11 weeks after potting, and its long lasting and non-droppingflowers.